Sleeping bag



March 27, 1934. Q E RYCRQFT 1,952,465

' y l SLEEPING BAG Filed March 8, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l @116' l .R5-g2 March 27, 1934.

G. E. RYCROFT SLEEPING BAG Filed March 8, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 R. W E y W@ mesas Ma. 21, 193i SLEEPING BAG George E. Rycroft, Waban, Maas.

Application March 8, 1932, Serial No. 597,505

Thisinvention relates to sleeping bags and itY distance, as shown, for example, in Fig. 1, to aims-to devise an article of this character which facilitate getting into and out of the bag, or

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can be manufactured economically and sold at a cost substantially lower than that of the b'etter 5 grades of sleeping bags now obtainable', while still being light in weight and suitable for usev in cold weather and in severe climates.

The nature of the invention will be readily understood from the following description when readin connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a sleeping bag constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the bag shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the upper part of the bag showing it partly closed and a hood turned somewhat toward. the left;

Fig. #i is a detailed sectional view approxi# mately on the line 4 4, Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a'rear view of the hood;

Fig. 6 is a front view of a detachable hood;

Fig. 'Tis a perspective view of the entire bag rolled up and secured in a compactform;A and Fig. 8 is a sectional view on a large scale of a portion of the envelope and lining therefor shown in Fig. 4. Y

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the bag there shown consists of upper and lower sections 2 and 3, respectively. These sections are made substantially alike except that the upper section 2 has a cut-out or notch -4 to accommodate the neck of the wearer, whereas the corresponding edge of the bottom section 3 usually is made straight. The sections are secured together at their lower ends and along their sides by lines of stitching 5. However, the stitching terminates at an intermediate point on each edge of the bag, and the top of the bag andthe sides down the lines of stitching are provided with slide operated fasteners such as thosev known commercially as hookless fasteners, talon fasteners, and zippers. Each of these fastening devices includes two 'rows of interlocking elements 6 and a cam slide 7 for moving said elements into and out of the interlocking engagement with each other. Custcmarily each row of elements 6 is secured to a tape-like strip 8 which turning it inside out for airing.

An important feature of this invention resides in the structure of the sections 2 and 3. Refer- 60 ring more particularly to Figs. 4 and 8 it will be seen that each section is of a ply formation` Each includes an outer sheet 10 of waterproof material, an inner lining 12 of some relatively thick flexible heat insulating fabric or equivalent material, and

an intermediate layer .or ply 14 of sheet material having an open fibrous or fuzzy structure so that it will retain a fairly thick body of air. Preferably the outer sheet 10 consists of a rubberized fabric combined with the intermediate sheet 14, the latter consisting of a napped fabric such as cotton flannel, canton flannel, or the like. These two sheets are secured together by a waterproof adhesive, usually of a rubbery nature. Preferably, also, the rubberized Waterproof sheet 10 cari ries an outer coating of flock so that it resembles a suede leather. The inner lining l2 may cony sist of a heavy, warm fabric, such for example, as a blanket fabric. I prefer, however, to make this lining of a good grade of felt which has been heavily calendered so .that it is made relatively compact and is given a hard surface finish. It will be evident that a rubberized sheet has, of and by itself, relatively little heat insulating value. In fact, it transmits heat fairly readily and for this reason is regarded as a cold" material. This object is avoided to a substantial degree by coating the outer surface of the fabric with short fiber, such as that known commercially as frock, such a coating having the further advantage of improving very greatly the surface appearance and feel of the goods. By making `the lining 12 of feltor some other fabric which has considerable resistance to the passage therethrough of air and interposing an air retaining layer 14 of fabric between it and the outer sheet l0 which is substantially impervious to both air yand water, an air space is provided between the is stitched to the margin of one of the sections 55 entire upper portion of the bag for a considerable outer sheet 10 and the lining l2 which forms an exceptionally goed thermal insulator. A hard calendered felt also is of advantage in decreasing the tendency of dirt and foreign materials to stick to it. At the same time it is warm and flexible.

As above stated, the top and bottom sections are substantial duplicates, and they are secured together at their margins, the edges of each section being inturned as shown clearly in Fig. 4. Consequently, the finished bag includes an outer envelope which is waterproof and which almost loc completely encloses the lining and inner layers. In order to hold the lining 12 and the outer waterproof sheet in approximately a fixed relationship to each other, these sheets of each section 2 and 3 are stitched together, preferably on diagonal lines, as indicated at 15, Fig. 1.

A hood 16 made of the same material' as that of which the bag is composed preferably is provided and it may either be secured permanently to the upper edge of the lower section 3; as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5, or it may be provided with button holes 17, Fig. 6, so that it can be removablyr fastened to the upper edge of said section.

.It is also desirable to fasten a strap 18 permanently to the bag as by stitching on lines indicated at 19, Fig. 3, Where it can be conveniently Wrapped around the bag when the latter has been rolled up, the strap being provided with a buckle 20 for fastening it to hold the bag in a compact form.

I have found that a sleeping bag can be made in the manner above described which will weigh between six and seven pounds and still will have ample warmth so that a person can sleep com# fortably in it outdoors in relatively cold Weather. additional warmth can be provided by properly folding a blanket and inserting it into the bag, the wearer sleeping inside both the blanket and the bag. Or, an inner bag may be made of heavy blanket material and used inside the bag. Buch a bag can be manufactured at an expense substantially less than that of even the more reasonably priced bags at present on the market. and it satisfies the requirements for a considerable class of campers and outdoor enthusiasts, boy scouts, and others, who require a warm and serviceable bag but one of iight weight.

While I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that the invention may 'be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or scope thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 desire to claim as new is:

A sleeping bag comprising an outer envelope .of waterproof rubberized sheet material externally coated 'with flock, an inner lining of relatively thick flexible heat insulating fabric, a layer of open fibrous air retaining sheet material between said envelope and said lining adapted to hold a body of air of considerable thickness constantly separating said lining and said envelope, and means for holding said envelope, lining and layer in approximately ixed relationship to each other.

GEORGE E. RYCROFT.

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